LICHALP

Lobothallia cheresina (Müll. Arg.) A. Nordin, Cl. Roux & Sohrabi

Syn.: Aspicilia calcarea (L.) Körb. var. microspora Arnold, Aspicilia cheresina (Müll. Arg.) Hue, Aspicilia cheresina (Müll. Arg.) Hue var. microspora (Arnold) Clauzade & Cl. Roux, Aspicilia cheresina (Müll. Arg.) Hue var. justii (Servít) Clauzade & Cl. Roux, Aspicilia microspora (Arnold) Hue, Aspicilia subcaesiocinerea Werner, Lecanora cheresina Müll. Arg., Lecanora justii Servít

Lichenised.

Substrate:

Altitudinal range: from the mesomediterranean belt (potential vegetation: evergreen broad-leaved forests dominated by Quercus ilex) to the subalpine belt (potential vegetation: open, taiga-like forests dominated by Larix decidua and/or Pinus cembra and Rhododendron)

Note: a Southern European and Mediterranean-montane, very characteristic but often overlooked species described from Egypt; it is found on calcareous rocks, starting the life-cycle on Aspicilia calcarea and related species. The species is chemically variable, which led to the description of several varieties whose taxonomic value should be re-assessed on the basis of molecular data.